What the $135 back payment is and who might receive it

The $135 is a one-time payment that Social Security sends to some people who were approved for SSDI but had to wait before their benefits could start. It is not automatic—you do not receive it just because you were approved. Social Security only sends it to people who meet specific conditions about timing and work credits.

This payment exists because of how SSDI's waiting period works. When you are approved for SSDI, your benefits do not start right away. There is a five-month waiting period from the date Social Security says your disability began. The $135 is meant to help cover part of that gap, but only if you meet the exact requirements Social Security has set.

The payment is sometimes called a "waiting period payment" or "back payment," though it is smaller than the back pay you might receive if your case took years to decide. It is a fixed amount—not based on how much your monthly benefit will be or how long you waited.

Key Takeaways

  • The $135 payment is sent only to people whose SSDI approval included a five-month waiting period that they lived through without receiving benefits.
  • You must have enough work credits to be approved for SSDI in the first place—the $135 does not change the credit requirement.
  • Social Security determines automatically whether you are owed this payment; you do not need to request it separately.
  • The payment arrives as part of your first SSDI check or shortly after, depending on how Social Security processes your case.
  • Not everyone approved for SSDI receives the $135—it depends on when your waiting period fell and how your case was decided.

How the waiting period connects to the $135 payment

SSDI has a built-in five-month waiting period. This means that even after Social Security approves you, your first monthly benefit check does not arrive for five months from your "onset date"—the date Social Security decides your disability began.

The $135 is meant to acknowledge that you went without income during those five months. However, Social Security only sends it under certain circumstances. If you were already receiving other benefits during the waiting period—such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), workers' compensation, or certain other payments—you may not receive the $135. The logic is that you had some income during the wait.

The payment also depends on how your case was decided. If your approval came through a hearing before an administrative law judge, or if your case involved a long appeals process, the timing of the waiting period may have already passed by the time you were approved. In those situations, Social Security may not send the $135 because the five-month window is already closed.

Work credits and the $135 payment

Your work credits are what make you may be able to access for SSDI in the first place. You cannot receive SSDI—and therefore cannot receive the $135—without having earned enough credits through work. The $135 payment does not replace or reduce the credit requirement.

The number of credits you need depends on your age when your disability began. If you became disabled before age 24, you need fewer credits. If you were between 24 and 31, you need credits for half the years since you turned 21. If you were 31 or older, you typically need 40 credits, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before your disability began.

Social Security checks your work history when it reviews your SSDI case. If you have enough credits, you move forward in the approval process. The $135 is only a question after you have already been approved—meaning you already have the credits you need. Having more credits than the minimum does not increase the $135 payment; it stays at $135 for everyone who receives it.

When you might not receive the $135

Social Security does not send the $135 in several common situations. If you were already receiving SSI when your SSDI was approved, you typically do not get it. SSI is a needs-based program, and Social Security considers it income during the waiting period. The same applies if you were receiving workers' compensation or certain other government payments.

If your SSDI approval came after a long appeals process—through a hearing or reconsideration—the five-month waiting period may have already ended by the time you were officially approved. Social Security cannot send a payment for a waiting period that is already over. This is one reason why people whose cases took years to decide often receive larger back payments but not the $135.

If you were working and earning substantial income during the five-month waiting period, you may also be ineligible. Social Security looks at whether you had other income sources during that time. The rules around this are specific, so if you think you should have received the $135 and did not, it is worth asking Social Security directly why.

How to learn about you are owed the $135

Social Security calculates the $135 automatically when it processes your SSDI approval. You do not need to fill out a separate form or make a special request. If you are owed it, the payment should arrive with your first SSDI check or within a few months after your benefits start.

Check your first few SSDI statements carefully. The $135 may appear as a separate line item labeled "waiting period payment" or "back payment," or it may be combined with your first month's benefit. If you received a notice of approval from Social Security, that letter should explain what you are owed and when to expect it.

If you were approved for SSDI but have not received the $135 and believe you should have, contact Social Security directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office, or create an account on ssa.gov to message Social Security. Have your Social Security number and approval letter ready when you call.

The $135 and your ongoing SSDI benefits

The $135 is a one-time payment and does not affect your monthly SSDI amount going forward. Your monthly benefit is calculated based on your work history and earnings record, not on whether you received the waiting period payment.

If you received the $135, it does not reduce your first month's benefit or any future months. It is separate from your regular SSDI checks. Similarly, if you did not receive it, that does not change your monthly benefit amount.

The $135 also does not count as income for purposes of other programs you might be on. If you receive food information, housing support, or other means-tested benefits, the $135 waiting period payment should not affect your may be able to access for those programs, though you may be required to report it depending on the program's rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request the $135 if I did not receive it automatically?

You can contact Social Security and ask why you did not receive it, but you cannot force them to send it if you do not meet the requirements. Social Security determines may be able to access based on specific rules about your waiting period and other income. If you believe there was an error, ask Social Security to review your case and explain their decision in writing.

What if I was already receiving SSI when I got approved for SSDI?

If you were on SSI during the five-month waiting period, you typically do not receive the $135. Social Security counts SSI as income during that time. However, when you are approved for SSDI, your SSI usually stops and you move to SSDI benefits, which are typically higher.

Does the $135 count as income for taxes or other benefits?

SSDI benefits are generally not taxable unless your total income exceeds certain thresholds. The $135 is part of your SSDI benefits, so it follows the same tax rules. For other programs like food information or housing, report it as instructed by that program, as rules vary.

How long after approval should I expect to receive the $135?

If you are owed the $135, it should arrive with your first SSDI check or within the first few months of benefits starting. If several months have passed and you have not received it, contact Social Security to ask about the status.

If my case was appealed and took years, do I still get the $135?

Probably not. The $135 is tied to the five-month waiting period from your onset date. If your case took years to decide through appeals, that waiting period ended long ago. You may receive a larger back payment covering the months between your onset date and approval, but not the $135 specifically.